America's Entry

On April 2, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson delivered his war message to Congress.  The Senate passed a bill on April 4, declaring war by an 82-6 margin.  Two days later the House passed the bill 373-50 and Wilson signed it, certifying that the United States had entered the conflict.

Although war was formally declared, the United States was ill prepared.  The armed forces consisted of only around 200,000 troops, with an aging officer corps.  In addition, the U.S. only had enough ammunition for about two days of fighting.  The Selective Service Act required that all men 21-30 register, of which 3 million were drafted.  Volunteers and National Guardsmen made up another 1.3 million.

Several events and reasons led to America's entry into the Great War.  "The United States must be neutral in fact, as well as in name, during these days that are to try men's souls," stated President Wilson in 1914.  This sentiment was consistent with the popular opinion of most Americans at the time.  However, the United States was definitely pro-British and continually supplied the Allies throughout the war.  

On May 7, 1915, the British passenger liner Lusitania was sunk by one torpedo from Ger. Capt. Walter Schwieger's U-20 leaving 1198 dead, including 128 Americans.  Germany agreed to a policy of restricted submarine warfare where the German captain would allow the targeted Allied captain and his crew to evacuate their ship before it would be torpedoed.  However, later incidents with the Sussex and the Arabic led to more American loss of life and even greater tensions.  Finally, on February 1, 1917, the Germans resumed unrestricted warfare, desperate to gain an edge in this costly war.

Another major reason for America's entry into the war was the infamous Zimmerman Telegram.  In January of 1917, the British deciphered a telegram from German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmerman to the German Minister to Mexico, von Eckardt.  In this message, Germany offered Mexico territory in the United States in return for joining the Central Powers.  Zimmerman pledged that Germany would assist them in "reconquering" their lost territory in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.  The American press published news of the telegram on March 1.  A little more than a month later and the United States declared war.

V.I. Lenin

Czar Nicholas II was dethroned in the "February Revolution" of 1917, after which Russia made little contribution to the war effort.  The incredible losses on the battlefield and the failure of the Provisional Government to improve conditions at home made Russia ripe for another Revolution.  In November, led by V.I. Lenin, the Red Guard stormed the Winter Palace and seize control.  The "Bolshevik Revolution" led to the establishment of a Socialist Russia, and they officially pulled out of the war through the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in March, 1918.  By this time, the United States was already mobilizing for war.